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Cheaper Cuts of Meat

The meat has to be rested after cooking for at least half an hour and sliced really thinly for you to enjoy the tenderness. The timings below are just a guide, as they can differ depending on the type of oven you have or the size of the joint.

Ingredients

1.5kg of quality topside from your local Craft Butcher

1 onion

1 bulb of garlic peeled

Half a leek roughly chopped

2 sprigs of thyme

2 sprigs of rosemary

Sea salt and cracked black pepper

3tbsp of whatever oil you have in the cupboard

Method

-Take your beef out of the fridge 30 minutes before it goes into the oven.

-Preheat your oven to 200oC/gas 6.

- There's no need to peel the vegetables – just give them a wash and roughly chop them.

- Break the garlic bulb into cloves, leaving them unpeeled.

- Heat a large frying pan with the 3tbsps of oil and sweat off all your vegetables for a minute to release the flavour.

- Remove them from the pan and place onto your roasting tray.

- Season the beef well with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

-Now on the same pan seal your beef all around making sure to get a nice even golden colour.

- Place the beef carefully on top of the vegetables, add your rosemary and thyme on top and place into the oven.

- Cook for one hour for medium beef or for well-done leave it in for another 15-20mins.

-If you're doing roast potatoes and veggies, this is the time to crack on with them – get them into the oven for the last 45 minutes of cooking.

-Baste the beef halfway through cooking and if the veg look dry, add a splash of water to the tray to stop them burning.

- When the beef is cooked to your liking cover it with some tinfoil and allow to rest.

- While the meat is resting make your gravy with the juice from the tray, beef stock and a sprig of thyme.

- Slice the beef thinly with a sharp knife and enjoy.

BEEF RIBS

Ingredients

5tbsps of sweet chilli sauce

5tbsps of soya sauce

3tbsps of tomato puree

2tbsps of balsamic vinegar

A handful of sesame seeds

3 sprigs of chopped thyme

1kg of beef ribs from your local Craft Butcher

Pinch of salt and cracked black pepper

Method

- Mix all the ingredients above in a bowl, cover with cling film and allow to marinate in the fridge for an hour before cooking.

- Preheat the oven to 190oC.

Place the whole lot into a cooking bag and onto a roasting tray.

- Cook for hour and a half keeping an eye on them every twenty minutes.

- Depending on the size of the ribs they may take longer in the oven.

- Once the meat is nearly falling off the bone they are perfect to eat.

- Allow the chops to marinade in the fridge for 30mins before cooking in the oil, garlic, rosemary and shallot.

- Once marinated, season the chops and place onto a smoking hot pan until golden on each side.

- Transfer to the oven at 190oC for 5-10mins depending on the size of your chops.

- Serve with some jacket potatoes and dressed salad.

PORK GIGOT CHOPS

Ingredients

2 pork gigot chops from your local Craft Butcher

2tbps of Dijon mustard

Zest and juice of 1 orange

2 sprigs of thyme chopped

Salt and cracked black pepper

For the salsa

Half a red onion diced

2 tomatoes deseeded and diced

A bunch of basil roughly chopped

Half the juice of 1 lime

Cracked black pepper

Method

- Make up the marinade and pour it over the chops.

- Cover them and chill for half an hour.

- On a griddle pan seal the chop off getting the lovely griddle effect on either side.

- Place into the oven for 10-12 minutes depending on the size of your chops at 190oC.

- Enjoy with the salsa and some crispy ciabatta.

Pulled Shoulder of Pork

Ingredients

1.5-2kg boneless pork shoulder from your local Craft Butcher

For the sauce

2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

5tbsp tomato ketchup

4tbsp balsamic vinegar

2tbsp smoked paprika

2tbsp dark muscovado sugar

2tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2tbsp Dijon mustard

Salt and black pepper

Method

- For the sauce mix all the ingredients in a bowl well. Place the sauce over the shoulder of pork and allow to marinade in the fridge for an hour.

- Put the pork and sauce into a cooking bag, onto and tray and into the oven at 150-160oC for 4 and a half to 5 hours depending on the size of your shoulder.

- Once cooked allow to rest for 15mins.

- Open the bag and take the shoulder out carefully.

- Empty the liquid into a wide based saucepan, skimming off any fat and reducing to a thick sauce consistency.

- Pull strips of the pork off and place them into the sauce.

- Enjoy with some ciabatta, chips and coleslaw.

PORK CHIMICHANGAS

Ingredients

1 pound of pork mince from your local Craft Butcher

Half an onion died

2tbps of smoked paprika

4tbps of sweet chilli sauce

Grated cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper

Tortilla wraps

For the tomato sauce

1 onion diced

1tsp of tomato puree

1 tin of chopped tomatoes

2tbsps Balsamic vinegar

2tbsps Sugar

A handful of basil leaves torn

Method

- Firstly in a saucepan with some oil make your tomato sauce by sweating the diced onion for 30 seconds on a high heat.

- Reduce the heat and add in your tomato puree.

- Cook out the tomato puree for 30 seconds and then add in the chopped tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and sugar.

- Bring to the boil and blend with a handheld blender if you like it smooth.

- Now add in the basil and a pinch of salt to finish.

- In another pot cook off the pork mince with the onion and smoked paprika.

- Add in half the tomato sauce you have made along with the sweet chilli.

- Allow the sauce to cook out well so it isn’t too wet to roll into the tortilla wraps.

- Once ready add in a pinch of salt and pepper and roll up into 4 separate tortilla wraps.

- Place them onto a tray and pour over some tomato sauce and top with the cheese.

- Place into the oven for 2mins or under the grill until the cheese is melted.

- Enjoy with some rice and sweet corn.

TIP: Ask your local Craft Butcher to recommend cuts of meat that suit your budget; along with helping you choose the best value cuts, he will also offer advice on how to cook it. By forming a relationship with your local Craft Butcher, you are ensuring the best quality meat, at a price you can afford.

For more information and to find your local 'Craft Butcher' click here

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In-depth interviews, human interest stories, consumer and lifestyle news as well as a lively panel discussion on issues of the week and newspaper reviews.